The plump, medium-bodied 2016 Cotes du Rhone Guy Louis Blanc starts with bright pineapple fruit, but it also reveals bitter notes of grapefruit pith and a distinct lack of richness and texture.

Made from 50% Marsanne, 20% Grenache Blanc, and the rest a mix of Viognier and Roussanne, the 2014 C?tes du Rh?ne Guy Louis Blanc comes from a number of regions in both the northern and southern Rh?ne. It offers impressive notes of buttered citrus, orange blossom and pineapple in a pure, textured, downright sexy style. It picks up hint of brioche on the finish (it was aged in one-, two- and three-year-old barrels) and is a food friendly, classy white that should represent a smokin’ value. Drink it over the coming couple of years.

Smoky and toasty, with those oaky notes balanced by honeyed fruit, like grilled peach and pineapple. This is a rich, corpulent Cotes du Rhone that just fades a bit quickly on the finish. Drink now. ——J.C.(10/1/2011)—— 87

Shows off the TL barrel regime, with toasty, mealy notes and hints of vanilla that come close to overwhelming the honeyed pear fruit. Turns fresh and pineapple-y on the finish, so give it another year in the bottle to knit all its pieces together.——J.C.(4/1/2010)—— 88